Bottle cleaning apparatus



April" 25,? 1944. E. R. BECKER BOTTLE cpmume APPARATUS Filed March 27,194a 4 sh ts-sheet 1 v INVENTOR. ERNEST BBECKEE A ril 25, 19 44. R B2,347,453

130mm. CLEANING APPARATUS 7 Filed March 27, 1942 4 Sheets-Skeet 2@NVENTOR.

v A770E/VfKS April 25, 1944. a R. BECKER 2,347,453

BOTTLE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- FIGT4INVENTORJ ERA/E57 1e. BECKE/ April 25, 1944.

; n mm."

E. R. BECKER 2,347,453 I BOTTLE CLEANING APPARATUS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed March 2'7, 1942 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 25, 1944 1 BOTTLE CLEANING APPARATUS Ernest R. Becker, OakPark, IlL, assignor to The Liquid Carbonic Corporation, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Application March 27, 1942, Serial No. 436,446

8 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle cleaning apparatus of the general typewherein the bottles are mounted on transverse carriers flexiblyconnected to side chains and constituting therewith an endless conveyorby which the bottles are advanced intermittently through the apparatusand are subjected, during their transit there through, to variousinterior and exterior treatments with liquid, their exteriors andinteriors also being subjected to the action of brushes, as part of thecleaning treatment.

The particular invention disclosed herein relates more especially tomechanism for brushing the outsides of the bottles in an apparatus ofthe character referred to, the type of brushing mechanism being shown,described and claimed in the patent to John R. Gruetter, No. 1,870,503,issued August 9, 1932.

In the operation. of the external brushing mechanism set forth in theaforesaid patent. when each transverse carrier is brought below theexternal brushing station, the bottles are lifted by spindles from saidcarrier and are reciproeated between rotating brushes which operate uponthe exterior surfaces thereof, the bottles being rotated during their.reciprocation by means of clamping cups which engage the bottoms of thebottles and are carried by reciprocable spinning rods. transverse seriesof bottles occurs during a stationary cycle of the progress of theconveyor.

Owing to the fact that a bottle occasionally becomes dislodged from itsseat and is carried along on top of the other seated bottles, it hasbeen found necessary, in the "operation of the external bottle brushingmechanism, to space the bottoms of the spinning-rods andclamping cups asufiicient distance above the bottoms of the bottles broughttherebeneath to provide clearance for the passage of any bottle whichmay have been so dislodged. This spacing, however, has presented an everpresent difiiculty, namely; the tendency of the bottles to tilt awayfrom a vertical position when lifted from their seats in the carriers bythe lifting spindles and to engage the clamping cups in eccentricrelation thereto. This eccentric engagement has caused theexternally'operating brushes to disengage the bottles from theirliftingspindles; and bottles thus displaced fall on top of the precedingor succeeding rows of bottles and are carried along in that position tothe inside brushing station, located beyond the external brushingstation, where they are liable to endanger the brushing spindles or themechanism operating the same.

The reciprocation of each 1 By means of the construction and arrangementof parts shown and described herein, I have been able to reduce to aminimum the danger of dislodging bottles from their carriers, due to theexternal brushing operation, and also to protect the lower ends of thespinning rods and the cups thereon against impact by any bottles thatmay have been dislodged in an operation preceding the brushing operationand that may be brought to the brushing station by subsequent movementsof the conveyor.

In the drawings herein, Fig. 1 represents a detail in side elevation,with parts broken away tail-in section through the conveyor and itssup-- of part of a bottle cleaning machine of the character referred towherein my invention is incorporated and showing the positions of theparts'prior to 1ifting the bottles from a carrier and reciprocating thesame between the external brushes; Fig. 2 a view similar to Fig. 1, butshow- I ing the positions of the parts during a forward or feedingstroke of the conveyor; Fig. 3 an enlarged plan-view of a portion of theapparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 an enlarged detail in sectiontaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of thearrows; Fig.

5 a plan view of the portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;Fig. 6 a detail in elevation of the inner cam which serves to impart ashort lifting movement to the spinning rods during the forward movementof the conveyor; Fig. 7 a detail in sectional side elevation showing thepositions of the driving rods and pawls with reference to the sidechains of the conveyor during an inactive phase of the conveyor; Fig. 8a view, similar to Fig. 7, showing the rods and pawls operating to drivethe conveyor; and Fig. 9 a deporting rails.

Bottle cleaning apparatus of the type to which my invention relatesinclude opposed side rails 1 ill, on which opposed links of the sideconveyoruw chains are supported, each link comprising outer and innermembers H and H? with rollers l2 interposed therebetween, said linksbeing supported on the said side rails 'by the'said rollers. Each of thesaid links is shown as provided with a detent l3 adapted to be engagedby a plurality or longitudinally spaced pairsof transverselyvopposed'pawls I4, the said pawls being pivotally connected by suitableclamping brackets 16 to rods 15 reciprocably mounted on opposite sidesof the apparatus. The mechanism for imparting 1 intermittent movement/tothe conveyor is old and well known in theart, being shown and described.for instance, in the patent to Loew and Gruett No. 1,313,706, andfurther description of the same and of the means for reciprocating thesaid rods and the pawls is unnecessary to an understanding of theobjects of the invention sought to be protected hereby.

I 1 denotes the transverse bottle carriers the opposite ends of whichare connected to transversely opposed inner link members H, preferablyby means of end castings such as shown, described and claimed in myapplication Serial No. 399,500, filed June 24, 1941, which has maturedinto Patent No. 2,329,687, dated Sept. 21,

1943. The transverse carriers are provided each with a series of bottlereceiving seats, shown as pockets l1 adapted to support bottles I8 withtheir bottoms above the tops of the said pockets, the lower ends of thepockets being shaped to conform to the shoulders of the bottles, withthe necks of the latter projecting therebelow.

l9 denotes a shaft which extends transversely of the apparatus and whichis suitably supported thereon by opposite side brackets 19* and providedwith a pulley l9 fordriving the same. This shaft extends throughopposite ends of a yoke 20, which is joumaled thereon and which shaft isprovided with a pair of spaced beveled pinions 2|, each of which mesheswitha beveled pinion 22 on the upper end of a shaft 23 which isjournaled in the said yoke and to the lower end of each of which shaftsa brush 24 is secured. This construction is substantially the same asshown in the aforesaid patent to Gruetter No. 1,870,503.

25 denotes a transverse shaft which is suitably supported from the sidemembers of the apparatus by hanger brackets, one of which is shown at25. 25 denotes one of a pair of arms through which said shaft extends,said arms carrying journals (not shown) in which the shaft 21, whichcarries the horizontal brush 28, is mounted for rotation, one end of theshaft being provided with a gear (not shown) for rotating the same. Theupper end of each of said arms 25 is provided with an apertured lug 29which is adapted to receive one end of a link 30, the opposite end ofwhich extends through an aperture provided therefor in a lug 20' carriedby the yoke 20.

3| denotes a second apertured lugcarried by the yoke 20, intermediate ofthe ends thereof, and connected to one end of a link 32, the oppositeend of which link is connected to one of the arms 33, 33" of a :bellcrank lever, said arms being secured to the shaft 34, and the arm 33having a vertical connecting rod 35 connected thereto. It will beevident that, while the pair of brushes 24 and the brush 28 will bemoved toward each other by the upward movement of the rod 35, a spring350, connected to the yoke 20 see Fig. 5) serves normally to separatethe said brushes. The construction and arrangement of parts thus fardescribed for supporting and rotating the brushes and for moving thebrush 28 and the pair of brushes 24 toward and from each other aresubstantially the same as shown and described in the aforesaid Gruetterpatent.

35 denotes a cross head located below the central portion of the spacebetween the brushes. This cross head supports a plurality of liftingrods or spindles 31, one for each bottle in a transverse carrier. Thesespindles extend through the horizontal flange of an angle-iron guidemember 32. 33 denotes another angle iron member which is supported abovethe member 38 by means of a bracket 40. The vertical leg of the angleiron member 35 supports bottle centering mechanism, each of whichcomprises laterally spaced angular guide members each having a portion40 extending longitudinally of the apparatus and avertical portion 42 bywhich it is so supported from the member 35; the longitudinal portion ofeach guide member having a downwardly projecting tongue 43 between whichtongues the necks of the bottles, on a transverse carrier which has beenmoved above the spindies 31, are received. These tongues serve to centerthe necks of the bottles in one direction with respect to the spindles31; while vertical tongues 44, which are mounted on a pair oftransversely extending reciprocable bars 45 and which project upwardlytoward the portions 4| serve, through the movement of said bars, tocomplete the centering of the mouths of the bottles above the spindles31, the tongues forming in effect a temporary box-like structurearoundeach bottle neck. The centering means employed herein are substantiallythe same as shown and described in the aforesaid patent to Gruetter and,in their details, form no part of the invention intended to be coveredhereby.

46 denotes one of a pair of laterally opposed lifting arms which aresecured to a shaft 41, suitably supported in opposite side portions ofthe apparatus. The operating ends of these arms are flexibly connectedto opposite end portions of the cross head 33 by means of links 43. Oneof the arms is provided with a stop lug 45 through which the connectingrod 35 extends. A stop 35 is secured to the rod 35 and is adapted to beengaged by the lug 49 as the arm 45 is moved upwardly, thereby to rockthe bell crank lever 33, 33, 34 and thus bring the brusli 28 and thepair of brushes 24 in operative relation to bottles liftedtherebetweenby the lifting spindles 31, as pointed out hereinbefore.

5!) denotes a transverse series of bottle spinning rods, correspondingin number and spec-- ing with the number and spacing of the bottles oneach of the carriers and each provided at its bottom with a clampingmember comprising a spinning cup 5| havinga bottom-engaging pad 5|therein. These rods are preferably angular in section and are mounted incorrespondingly shaped guides provided therefor in bushings 5| locatedwithin housings, indicated generally at 52, each bushing being providedwith a spur gear 53, the gears intermeshing with one another and one ofthe final gears being provided with a bevel gear 54 integral therewithwhich meshes with a bevel gear 55 on one end of a shaft 55, which ismounted in an extension of the framework of the apparatus and whichshaft is shown as provided at its opposite end with a spur gear 51 whichis adapted to mesh with and be driven by a gear (not shown) on the shaft19.

Th parts shown and described thus far are substantially the same inconstruction and mode of operation as corresponding parts in theaforesaid Gruetter patent; and, due to the manner in .which the partsare so constructed and arranged and operated, during each rest orinactive cycle of the conveyor (at which time a transverse carrier withthe bottles thereon is beneath the rods 50 and the clamping cups 5|) thecross head 35 i lifted by the arms 46 and shaft 41 (through means to bedescribed), thereby lifting the spindles 31, the upper ends of whichenter the mouths of the bottles on the carrier thereabove and, by

heir further movement, lift the bottles from the :arrier and raise thembetween the brushes 24 and 28. As the bottles are thus raised, they arerotated slowly by the rods 58 and the clamping :ups 5|; and the upwardmovement of one of the arms 45 will lift the rod 35, through engagementof the stop members 48 and 39', thereby rocking the bell crank lever 33,33*, 34 and moving the brush 28 and the pair of brushes 24 intoengagement with the bottles as the latter are moved upwardlytherebetween. n the downward movement of the bottles, the brushes willbe separated by means of the spring 358, as explained hereirrbefore.

For the purpose of preventing the tilting of the bottles in theircarriers during the lifting operation, I have provided the followingconstruction whereby the clamping cups and the pads therein, may bebrought into close proximity to the bottoms of the bottles on thecarrier therebeneath prior to imparting the lifting movement to saidbottles. I have also provided mechanism for imparting a short liftingmovement to the rods 50 and the bottle-clamping cups thereon, during theforward stroke of the pawls l4, whereby a bottle (indicated at B) thatmay have been dislodged and have been resting in the space betweenadjacent transverse series of bottles may pass clear of the saidclamping cups. The aforesaid construction and mechanism will now bedescribed: I

68 denote; the bottom plate of a transversely extending lifting channelthrough which plate the upper ends of the rods 58 extend, there beingbronze washers 6| surrounding the said rods above and below the plate,the lower washers being located above bushings 50 which are mounted uponthe upper ends of the bushings 5| To the upper end of each rod there issecured a collar (i2.v 63 denotes a shaft extending transversely of theapparatus and supported by brackets 84, each secured to a supportingbase 65 by means of bolts 86 extending through spacing sleeves 51. 68denotes guide posts having their lower ends mounted in the brackets 64and each extending through a transverse plate 69 of the lifting channel,said transverse plates being located above and at opposite ends of thebottom plate 88 of said channel through which the upper ends of the rods50 project.

1|! denotes lifting arms secured to the shaft 53 and having their outerends connected to the transverse plates 59 by means of pivot bolts 1|and shoes or brackets 12 which are-slidably secured at their upper endsagainst the bottoms of said plates by means of bolts 13, extendingthrough slots 89 in said plates and threaded into the upper ends of saidshoes or brackets.

An arm 14 i secured to the shaft 63, adjacent to one end of the latter.Aconneoting rod 15, adjustable as to length, is pivotally connected atits upper end to the said arm and at its lower end to an arm 16 securedto one of the end portions of a transverse shaft 11 supported by opposedvertical members 18 of the apparatus. 19 denotes an arm also secured tothe said end portion of the shaft 11 and angularly spaced from the arm18 and forming a bell-crank lever with said shaft and the arm 16. Oneend of a connecting rod 80, which is also adjustable as to its length,is pivotally connected at one end to the arm 19 and at the other end tothe lower end of an arm 8| which is pivotally supported upon a stud 82,the latter being supported by a suitable side portion of the apparatus(not shown) said arm supporting a roller 83 intermediate of its ends andwhich roller engages a track cam 84 on the inner faceof a cam plate 85(see Fig. 6), which plate is secured to a shaft 85 mounted for rotationin a suitable portion of the side of the apparatus (not shown). a L

81 denotes an arm one end of which is pivotally supported upon a stud 88which in turn is also supported by a suitable portion of the side ofthe" apparatus (not shown) and the opposite end of. which is pivotallyconnected to a connecting rod 89, which is adjustable as to its length,the other end of said connecting rod being pivotally connected to theadjacent lifting arm 48, intermediate of the ends of the latter. The arm81 is provided with a roller 90, intermediate of the ends thereof, whichroller engages a track cam 9| on the outer face of the cam plate (seeFig. 1).

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, the operation willbe as follows: The conveyor, consisting of the side chains and thetransverse bottle carriers connected thereto, is advanced intermittentlyby the reciprocations of the rods |5, which are operated in the mannerusual in the type of machines to which this invention relates-see, forinstance, the aforesaid Loew and Gruetter patent. In Figs. 1 and 7, the

parts are shown in the positions which theyv occupy after the completionof a forward stroke of the rods l5 and the pawls l4, and as the rods andpawls start upon their return or inactive stroke. At that time, the pads5| in the clamping cups 5| are in close proximity to the bottles of thetransverse series of bottles that have been brought therebeneath by thepreceding forward stroke of the rods |5, the collars 62 supporting therods 50 and clamping cups in this position. The driving mechanisms areso timed that. during the cycle intervening between successive forwardmovements of the conveyor, the shaft 86 and the track cam 9| on theouter face of the cam disk 85 will lift the outer end of the arm 81,which rocks theshaft 41, and the arms 48 on opposite sides of theapparatus are raised, thereby lifting the cross head 36 and projectingthe upperends of the spindles 31 into the mouths of the bottlesthereabove and raising the bottles between the brushes 24 and 28, thepositions of the clamping cups 5| at the end of the upward stroke of thecross head 36 being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the bottles arethus raised, their bottoms engage the cup pads 5| immediately, therebyobviating any tendency of the bottles to be tilted from a verticalpcsition during their reciprocatory movements. As the bottles are thusbeing raised, they are rotated slowly by the clamping cups 5| and therods 58 by which the said cups are carried, the rotation of said rodsbeing effected by the pinions 54 and 55 and the shaft 56. During thislifting movement of the bottles, the brush 28 and the pair of brushes 24will be swung toward each other and into engagement with the sides ofthe bottles; and, on the downward movement of the cross head 36, thebrush 28 and the pair of brushes 24 willbe swung away from each other bythe spring 35!), thereby to permit the bottles to pass between the saidbrushes. without being displaced from the spindles 31.

Following the completionoi the cycle-just described and during thesucceeding forward cycle of the conveyor (see Figs. 2 and 8), the innercam 84 operates through the roller 83 and the arm 8| to move theconnecting rod 88 on Fig. 1 toward the left, thereby rocking the shaft11 and causing the arm 16 to move downwardly and rock the shaft 63,through the connecting rod 15 and the arm 14. This rocking of the shaft63 causes the lifting arms I thereon to raise the lifting channelthrough the bolts II, the lifting shoes or brackets 12, and the plates89. The parts are so timed that the bottom plate 60 of the liftingchannel will raise the spinning rods 50, through the collars 62, to thepositions indicated in Fig. 2 in time to permit a bottle B which mayhave been dislodged in the preceding operation of the apparatus to passtherebeneath. While the rods and clamping cups are thus elevated, thebottle B will have been carried beyond the clamping cups and the cam 84will operate to rock the shaft 11 in the reverse direction, therebyseating the lifting channel and bringing the bottle spinning rods andtheir clamping cups to the positions shown in Fig. 1.

On narrow machines of the type shown herein-not over eight-bottleswide-it will be necessary to use only a single connecting rod 15 betweena corresponding single bell crank lever (comprising the arms I6, "andshaft 11) and a single arm 14. On wider machines, the bell crank 16, I9and I1 will be duplicated on the opposite side of the machine, as willthe connecting rod 15 and the arm 14, in order to avoid any misalignmentwhich might occur through flexure of the shaft 63.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that all danger of stoppage ofthe apparatus through bottles that might be dislodged during theexternal brushing operation has been overcome. Owing to the fact that,practically immediately upon the start of the operation of lifting thebottles from the carriers, their bottoms are engaged by the cups therewill be no dislodgement of these bottles during the external brushingoperation; and hence one of-the causes for such stoppage has beeneliminated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning bottles comprising;

a conveyor having transversely extending bottle carriers each providedwith seats for bottles, a transverse series of bottle-bottom clampingmembers, and means normally supporting the same in close proximity toand above thebottoms of the bottles on the carriers brought successivelytherebeneath, means for imparting intermittent movement to said conveyorthereby to bring the carriers and the bottles supported therebysuccessively beneath said clamping members, and means operative duringan inactive cycle of the conveyor for lifting a transverse series ofbottles from their respective seats in a carrier thus brought beneathsaid clamping members and for also lifting the clamping members abovethe said carrier with their bottoms in clamping engagement with thebottoms of the bottles thus lifted and for thereafter restoring thebottles thus lifted to their seats in said carrier and the clampingmembers to their original positions above and in close proximity to thebottoms of these bottles; and additional means, operative during thenext succeeding forward cycle of the conveyor, for raising the saidclamping members and lowering them to their positions in close proximityto and above the bottoms of the bottles on the carriers.

2. An apparatus for cleaning bottles comprising; a' conveyor havingtransversely extending bottle carriers each provided with seats forbottles, a transverse series of reciprocable rods, bottlebottom clampingmembers carried by the bottoms of said rods and located above andnormally in close proximity to the bottoms of the bottles on thecarriers-brought successively therebeneath, means for impartingintermlttentmovement to said conveyor, thereby to bring the carriers andthe bottles supported thereby successively beneath said clampingmembers, and means operative during an inactive cycle of the conveyorfor lifting a transverse series of bottles from their respective seatsin a carrier thus brought beneath the said clamping members and for alsolifting the clamping members and the rods above the said carrier withthe bottoms of the clamping members in engagement with the bottoms ofthe bottles thus lifted and for thereafter restoring the bottles thuslifted to their seats in said carrier and the clamping'members and rodsto their original positions with the clamping members above and in closeproximity to the bottoms of the bottles; and additiona1 means, operativeduring the next succeeding forward cycle of said con veyor, for liftingthe said clamping members and rods and lowering them, thereby to bringthe clamping members again in close proximity to and above the bottomsof the bottles on the carriers, said additional means comprising atransverse member through which the upper portions of the said rodsextend, a projection carried by each of said rods above said transversemember whereby the rods are supported in their lowered positions withthe clamping members closely adjacent to the bottoms of the bottlestherebeneath, and means for raising and lowering the said transversemember.

3. An apparatus for cleaning bottles comprising; a conveyor havingtransversely extending I bottle carriers each provided with seats forbottles, a transverse series of reciprocable rods, bottle-bottomclamping members carried by the bottoms of said rods and located aboveand normally-in close proximity to the bottoms of the bottles on thecarriers therebeneath, means for imparting intermittent movement to saidconveyor, thereby to bring the carriers and the bottles supportedthereby successively beneath said clamping members, and means operativeduring an inactive cycle of the conveyor for lifting a transverse seriesof bottles from their respective seats in a carrier beneath the saidclamping members and for also lifting the clamping members above thesaid carrier with their bottoms in en.- gagement with the bottoms of thebottles thus lifted and for thereafter restoring the bottles to theirseats in such carrier and the clamping members to their originalpositions above the bottoms of these bottles; and additional means,

operative during the next succeeding forward cycle of said conveyor forraising the said clamping members and rods and lowering them, thereby tobring the clamping members again in close proximity to and above thebottoms of the bottles on the carriers, said means comprising atransverse member through which the upper portions of the said rodsextend, a projection carried by each of said rods above said member, andmeans for raising and lowering the said transverse memher, the means forraising and lowering the transverse member comprising a transverselyextending rock shaft, arms carried by said rock shaft and in operativeengagement with opposite end portions of the said transverse member, anoperating arm also connected to said rock shaft, a bell crank leverpivotally supported by said apparatus, a connecting rod connecting thelast mentioned arm to one of the arms of the bellcrank lever, aconnecting rod secured to the other arm of said bell crank lever, andpower operated means for reciprocating the second connecting rod duringa forward movement of the conveyor.

4. In the apparatus set forth in claim 3, the means for reciprocatingthe second connecting rod comprising a cam, a shaft on which said cam ismounted, an arm having one end pivotally supported by said apparatus andhaving its other and connected to the second connecting rod, and aroller carried by the last mentioned arm intermediate the ends thereofand engaging the said cam.

5. In the apparatus recited in claim 2, the transverse member comprisinga plate through which the rods extend and the rods being provided withbushings above and below said plate, and guide pins located at oppositeends of said plate and projecting through end extensions oi the saidtransverse member.

6. An apparatus for cleaning bottles comprising; a conveyor havingtransversely extending bottle carriers each provided with seats forbottles, a transverse series of bottle-bottom clamping members locatedabove and normally in close proximity to the bottoms of the bottles onthe carriers, means for imparting intermittent movement to saidconveyor, thereby to bring the carriers and the bottles supportedthereby successively beneath said clamping members, and means operativeduring an inactive cycle of the conveyor for lifting a transverse seriesof bottles from their respective seats in a carrier beneath the saidclamping members and for also lifting the clamping members above thesaid carrier with their bottoms in engagement with the bottoms of thebottles thus lifted, and for thereafter restoring the bottles to theirseats in said carrier and the clamping members to theiroriginalpositions above and in close proximity to the bottoms of these bottles:and additional means operative during the next succeeding forward cycleof said conveyor for raising the said clamping members and loweringthem, thereby to bring the clamping members again in close proximity toand above the bottoms of the bottles on the carriers, the means forimparting the additional reciprocatory movement to said clamping memberscomprising rods to which the said members are secured, a transverselyextending channel member having a bottom plate through which the upperends of said rods extend, projections on the 7 upper end portions ofsaid rods above the bottom plate, channel bottom plates located beyondthe opposite ends of the first mentioned bottom plate, lifting armsoperatively connected with the last mentioned plates, vertical guidepins extending through the last mentioned plates, and means foroperating the said arms thereby to raise and lower the channel member.

"I. In the apparatus recited in claim 6, a rock shaft on which saidlifting arms are mounted and means for rocking said shaft, and the meansfor connecting the said arms withtheir respective bottom platescomprising-shoes or brackets slidably connected at their upper ends tothe latter plates and means pivotally connecting the said arms to thesaid shoes or brackets.

8. An apparatus for cleaning bottles comprising; a conveyor havingtransversely extending bottle carriers each provided with seats forbottles, a transverse series of rods adapted to be reciprocated,bottle-bottom clamping members carried by the bottoms of said rods aboveand normally in close proximity to the bottoms of the bottles on thecarriers, means for imparting intermittent movement to said conveyor,thereby to bring the carriers and the bottles supported therebysuccessively beneath said clamping members, and means operative duringan inactive cycle of the conveyor for lifting a transverse series ofbottles from-their respective seats in a carrier beneath the saidclamping members and for also lifting the clamping members above thesaid carrierwith their bottoms in engagement with the bottoms of thebottles thus lifted; and for thereafter restoring the bottles to theirseats in such carrier and the clamping members to their originalpositions above and in close proximity to the bottoms of the bottles,the last-mentioned means comprising a cross head and lifting spindlescarried by said cross head and adapted to enter the mouths of atransverse series of bottles brought beneaththe said clamping membersand 'means 1 for raising and lowering said cross head; and additionalmeans operative during the next succeeding forward cycle ofsaid conveyorfor raising the said clamping members and rods and lowering them,thereby to bring the clamping members again in close proximity to andabove the bottoms of the bottles on the carriers, said means comprisinga transverse member through which the upper portions of the said rodsextend, a projection carried by each of said rods above said member, andmechanism for raising and lowering the'said transverse member, thelast-mentioned mechanism comprising a rock shaft, arms mounted on saidrock shaft and adapted to engage the opposite end portions of the saidtransverse member. thereby to lift the latter, an additional arm carriedby the said rock shaft, a bell crank lever, a connecting rod connectingthe last-mentioned arm with one of the arms of the bell crank lever, ashaft, a cam on the said shaft, and means operatively connecting thesaid cam with the other of the arms of the bell crank lever.

ERNEST R. BECKER.

